Everyone sets boundaries, sometimes it’s for comfort, others for self-belief. Today has taught me a few things, implementing what you know if highly powerful. To question what you are doing is the very tools of what helps you to stretch the boundaries. I remember a training session I was in 10 years ago which described this as the map is not the territory, suppose today it’s almost a virtual world with infinite horizons.

Without knowledge and education, the wall art I installed this morning, wouldn’t have been as successful as it was. The client was wanting to create something; however, we were well aware their budget wasn’t where it needed to be. So pull out some of the grey matter of Richard Smith’s (Lecturer) History of Art and Design from my ND in Graphic Design at Coventry Technical College enabled a result. Or utilising a “Tromp l’oeil” effect;

Trompe-l’œil is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects exist in three dimensions. Forced perspective is a comparable illusion in architecture.

Whilst the business tackles all sorts of projects around Graphic Arts, Printing and stunning visual stuff, we only achieve what we do, for stretching the boundaries (both in the past and now). Let’s face it design is only derived from a designer’s experiences and influences, which shape the result of the individual’s labours. So, is “experience” the new currency?

As the day progressed, an early afternoon video conference call with a business networking connection was scheduled. It was titled up as business cards, which I was keen to understand why, In the current Covid-19 restriction environment we are operating in, the connection was after some. A varied conversation followed, and, learning how and what this lady did within her business, it became apparent, that a different print marketing tool was required, Promo Cards… to provide more flexibility and to unpack her business more. So yet again the boundaries had been set, almost like the inner square of the cricket pitch in this case, when to be able to reach for SIX’es on the boundary is what was required.

We have learnt that over the years, as a printer, and graphic communication professional, it always pays to ask questions, helping our customers to ensure they are getting what they need. I always believe a job done right, results in the customer returning. The only question is, are you wearing blinkers which stop you seeing beyond your boundary?